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Qt on QNX

When BlackBerry introduced its new Qt-based BlackBerry 10 platform for smart phones and tablets, it generated a lot of interest in Qt on mobile. BlackBerry 10 is based on the QNX 1 operating system, a subsidiary of BlackBerry.

What is perhaps not as well known, is that Qt is well supported on QNX as an embedded operating system in its own right.

QNX is a commercial POSIX-compliant real-time operating system intended for embedded systems applications. Originally developed in the early 1980s by Quantum Software Systems, later renamed QNX Software Systems, it was acquired by BlackBerry in 2010.

Unlike standard Linux, QNX is a real-time operating system. For those interested in operating system architecture, it is notable that QNX was one of the first commercially successful microkernel operating systems.

Qt 5 2, 3 is supported on QNX SDP version 6.5 SP1 and on SDP 6.6 with QNX SDK for Apps and Media. Both ARM and x86 architectures are supported. Almost all of the Qt Essentials modules and some Qt add-ons are supported on the QNX platform. Development can be done using the Eclipse-based Momentics IDE or using Qt Creator.

ICS and BlackBerry have recently been running a series of free, one day workshops 4 on how best to use QNX and Qt. These workshops are a great way to get up to speed on Qt and QNX including hands-on experience with embedded hardware.

If you are interested in learning more about Qt on QNX, I would encourage you to consider attendance at one of these workshops. If a class is not one scheduled near you, you can nominate a city where you would like a future workshop to be held.